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Skye’s stomach flopped instinctively—reflexively—against her judgement and certainly without her consent. ‘Why?’
‘Because you are my wife,’ he said with a shrug, as though it made complete sense. ‘And I like that you are my wife. I want you back in my bed, like you should have been all along. There is a silver lining to this mess, no?’
‘God, Matteo! How can you think about sex right now? How can you think I’d ever climb back into your bed after this? You’re blackmailing me in the most hateful way! And I hate you! I hate you!’
‘Yes,’ he said with a decisive nod, his eyes narrowing. ‘But are you not the one who said that hate and love are easily interchanged?’
‘I will never be dumb enough to love you again. You disgust me.’
His laugh was a sharp dismissal. ‘You desire me. Hate does not disqualify lust. Si?’
Shame flooded Skye. How could it be true? How could she feel such a strong
physical attraction to Matteo, even after all that she knew of him? This man was a total bastard—he was nothing like the man she’d thought she’d married. He’d used her then and he was using her now.
She had very little pride left. And suddenly she had very little will to fight. She lifted her eyes to his, but there was a lingering shred of defiance in them from deep within her. ‘Hell will freeze over before I sleep with you again.’
His laugh was mocking. ‘You’ll be begging me to take you in no time.’ He dropped his mouth to hers. ‘And I’m going to enjoy it, Mrs Vin Santo.’
There was anger in the depths of her toffee-coloured eyes. ‘I swear to you, Matteo, I will never beg for you again.’
His laugh was dismissive. ‘We’ll see.’
* * *
Skye toyed with the necklace, pulling it from side to side, sliding the small locket from one slender shoulder to the other as she stared out at the setting sun.
She wondered, absentmindedly, if her flight had already left. Without her on it, taking with it her dreams of escape. Of freedom. Of a whole new world and life far, far away from Matteo Vin Santo and all his lies.
It was strange being back in the villa. Nothing had changed, yet everything was different.
The last time she’d been here, it had been with an air of delight. With pleasure, excitement. adoration and love. With lust, too. She had been a newlywed and life had been so simple. For, what reason could her powerful billionaire husband have for tricking her into marriage? They were both independently wealthy; he was a renowned ladies’ man and there had been no advantage to him in marrying someone like her unless he’d fallen as utterly head over heels in love as she had.
And that had been so easy to believe!
He’d played the part perfectly. How could she have been so fooled by him? He had looked at her and everything had made sense. How had he not felt that?
Her stomach lurched as she remembered their wedding night. The beautiful anticipation of that moment of first possession. For the month they’d dated, he’d insisted on waiting, despite the fact she’d begged him to take her night after night after night.
She saw it now for what it was—another part of his callous, calculated plan. He’d manipulated her inexperience and desire. She had been the one who’d pushed for a quick engagement. He’d withheld the sexual satisfaction she’d been desperate for, knowing it would lead to a fast-track wedding.
What was that expression? Marry in haste, repent at leisure...
To be back in his house, pregnant with his baby, still wanting him but so completely out of love... What a nightmare it was.
Worse, he was right. His body still had the power to make all her will-power crumble. How she hated him for that!
A noise behind her had Skye tilting her head, her dark hair falling like a curtain across her shoulder.
‘Dinner’s ready.’
His voice was unrecognisable. It was so businesslike. So cold.
She turned away, rejecting him and his closeness, her eyes running across the golden sky, seeking warmth from its light. ‘I’m not hungry.’
‘I don’t give a damn.’
Skye swept her eyes shut.
